Salt Lake Tribune: Ogden City Illegally Spent $434,000 Without Council Approval - Updated

We can't help but wonder whether the knowledge that this audit was in the pipeline could have been a material factor in Boss Godfrey's decision to refrain from running for re-election this year

Updated: This is not a proud moment either for the administration or the council, wethinks

Blockbuster Cathy McKitrick story this morning from the Salt Lake Tribune, smacking Boss Godfrey hard for misappropriating Ogden City Capital Improvement funds. Here's the lede:

A state auditor’s investigation, launched by a complaint from activist Dan Schroeder, found Ogden city administrators improperly spent $434,000 on capital improvement projects without first getting City Council approval.

The city had a "significant deficiency" in internal controls — which is considered less severe than a "material weakness," but "important enough to merit attention by those charged with governance," according to an Aug. 18 letter from state auditor Auston Johnson.

Read the full story here:

• Ogden city spent $434,000 without council approval

And here's the eye opening full audit report, which we've uploaded to our storage site:

• State Auditor's Letter and Report

We can't help but wonder whether the knowledge that this audit was in the pipeline could have been a material factor in Boss Godfrey's decision to refrain from running for re-election this year.

And a Weber County Forum Tip O' The Hat to tireless Ogden City political activist Dan Schroeder, for getting the ball rolling on this.

The world-wide blogosphere awaits your ever-savvy comments concerning these latest revelations of Matthew Godfrey misconduct.

Update 8/27/11 7:10 a.m.: The Standard-Examiner is now carrying the story, too:

• Auditors scold Ogden city for lapse

Interestingly, Mr. Schwebke reports that "[t]he administration also said it has since worked jointly with the city council to pass an ordinance to prevent future issues such as those detailed in the audit," which now belatedly explains the Council's motivation for its heretofore inexplicable 4/4/11 "mad dash," to expand Boss Godfrey's discretionary spending authority, through the raising of capital improvement project limits and the establishment of an array of administration-controlled "slush funds."

Plainly, the Council was aware of the State Auditor's pending investigation clear back in April; but the Council coyly refrained from saying anything publicly about it. Instead of putting the over-reachmg Boss Godrey's feet to the fire, the pro-Godfrey Council Chair, Ms. Caitlin G0hnour, just capitulated, and helped usher through an ordinance which is the equivalent of shutting the barn door, after all the livesock have escaped. This is not a proud moment either for the administration or the council, wethinks.